Take A Chance On Me

Chapter 17

'There is a good chance he'll make it.' Nancy first said to the cousins.

'Make what? You still haven't told us,' Bess said in frustration. George nudged her, telling her to calm down.

'Sarah overdosed Frank on morphine while he was asleep but luckily a nurse was walking past before she could do any major damage. They're going to give him some fluids and naloxone.' Nancy exhaled a breathe she didn't realise she was holding. 'You guys head home, Morgan should be finished school soon and it's date night for you, George. I'm going to stay here until I know he's ok.' The trio got up and hugged each other.

'Let us know if you need anything ok? Morgan would love to see you again and when Frank back to fighting fit, she'll love to see him.' The cousins wave goodbye and Nancy sits patiently in the waiting room. 

Hours pass by with no words from anyone. Nancy had already started drifting to sleep when the nurse finally came out to update her on Frank's condition.

'Ms. Drew, Mr Hardy has is ready for visitors. He's not awake just yet and I'm not sure when he's going to awaken but if you would like to see him, go ahead.' Nancy couldn't get up faster. Her legs couldn't run faster to the man she would do anything for. His body lay still. She walked in slowly, knowing she can't wake him up but not wanting to give up the opportunity. 

He looked so pale. Usually the very tanned and muscular Frank, laid pale and somehow he looked small. She walked over to her boyfriend and held his hand. Nancy could feel a presence at the door. 

'This ends tonight,' Ned said from behind her.

'Why? Why do this to him?' Nancy asked, moving in front of Frank's head and heart to stop Ned from hurting him any further.

'He took everything from me. My life. My girlfriend. Everything. If only he did the one thing I had asked him to do then none of this would've happened. Then Callie had told me that this dickwad and her had broken up, I knew that somehow in the near future, SOMEHOW, you two would bump into each other.' Ned pointed the gun at her then at the still body. 'Move Nancy. This ends now.' 

Ned shoots Frank in the leg. Screaming could be heard everywhere. Red lights filled the hospital. Nancy leapt at Ned reaching for the gun. Another shot was aimed at the roof. Then another one. Blood went everywhere. A body dropped to the floor. Blood starts pooling on hands before collapsing. Shock written all over both faces. A hard thud hits the floor followed by the gun. Security seized the perpetrator. Slamming Ned's body to the ground.

'NANCY!' Ned screams against the floor. Frank's heart monitor continues racing in the background. Doctors and nurses starts racing into the room, crowding around Frank and Nancy trying to get them both stable.

Nancy's ears were ringing. Her last thought was of Frank. She could hear his heart monitor followed by silence. She could see lights from the ceiling, bright then darkness. The bright lights showed themselves then slowly turned to nothingness.

Pain. That was the first thing she felt. Frank. Her first thought. Beeping. She could hear it slowly but steadily. Heart monitor, she thought. On one hand, Nancy could feel the cotton of the hospital blanket. In her right hand, she could feel a slightly calloused hand intertwined into her own. Warm, lean and double the size of her own.

'Frank,' her voice didn't sound like her own. It came out coarse and barely audible. Frank squeezed her hand and threw what felt like a book next her leg, his other hand covering her arm. 

'Baby, slowly,' Nancy slowly opened her eyes and tried to get up. Suddenly Frank's hand moved to her shoulder and tried to steady her up. 'Nurse! Can I get some water please?' Frank called out. 

'Water.' Nancy's husky voice muttered.

'Yes baby, it's on it's way.' Frank's hand reached up to the side of Nancy's face and rubs his thumb along her jawline. 'Hey, hey.' Nancy finally opened her eyes fully and turned to her boyfriend. She was surprised that he was sitting in a wheelchair with wrapping on leg. Her face slowly scrunched up in confusion. 'Ned shot my leg, near my ankle. Will have this on for the next 6 weeks. Plus I will have to change it every day and a whole list of other things the doctor wants me to do.' Frank had noticed that he had been rambling and decided to turn his attention to his girlfriend. He was about to speak up again when the nurse came in carrying a plastic cup and a water bottle.

'The doctor will be in shortly to see how you're doing Miss Drew. Happy that you're awake and looking well.' The nurse quickly shot out of the room, then quickly turned around and came back in. 'I should probably help you with the water, shouldn't I?' The couple chuckled. Nurse Amelia steadily lifted the cup to Nancy's lips.

'Bess and George will be coming tomorrow to see you. Morgan has a recital tonight that she's been practising for weeks for. Carson, Mum and Dad were going to come as soon as they got the news that you'd woken up. They came yesterday as well and got you your favourite flowers; blue dahlia flowers and purple calla lilies.' Nurse Amelia left again and this time she didn't turn around.

'Frank, how long have I been out for?' She sat up a little too quickly for her head and immediately laid back down. He held up 4 fingers. 4 days? 4 whole days? What had happened while she was out?

'Nan, he's in jail. We can all finally rest,' Frank leaned against the bed and kissed her hand. 'We can finally rest.